Open AccessEffects of Immunosuppressants on Concanavalin A-Induced Interleukin-2 mRNA Expression in Mouse Liver
Author(s) -
Toshihiro Okamoto,
Tadashi Kobayashi
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
japanese journal of pharmacology/japanese journal of pharmacology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1347-3506
pISSN - 0021-5198
DOI - 10.1254/jjp.77.261
Subject(s) - concanavalin a , dexamethasone , messenger rna , endocrinology , medicine , interleukin , chemistry , hepatitis , interleukin 4 , liver injury , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , cytokine , biochemistry , gene , in vitro
Treatment of mice with concanavalin A (Con A) induced interleukin-2 (IL-2) mRNA expression in the liver, which might be a result of Con A-induced T-cell activation. Pretreatment with cyclosporine A (CsA) (50 mg/kg, i.p.) or dexamethasone (DEX) (2.5 mg/kg, i.p.) inhibited the Con A-induced liver injury, as assessed by the plasma alanine aminotransferase level, by 85% and 95%, respectively. CsA inhibited the Con A-induced IL-2 mRNA expression completely, whereas DEX only partially inhibited it. Thus CsA seems to prevent Con A-induced hepatitis mainly by inhibiting T-cell activation. In the case of DEX, rather than by inhibiting Con A-induced T-cell activation, it may prevent Con A-induced hepatitis through other means.